Matthew Perry's death: Inside the investigation to determine how the 'Friends' actor died

An autopsy may have answered a lot of fundamental questions about the state of Matthew Perry’s body, including his heart, arteries and lungs. But a more detailed examination, conducted by a toxicologist and looking for chemicals in his organs, may tell another story. Photo: Reuters

Hours before Matthew Perry died at his Pacific Palisades homes Saturday, he had played pickleball.

He returned home, law enforcement sources said, and at some point, got into his hot tub. It was there that an assistant found him unresponsive and called 911 around 4pm.

In trying to determine the cause of death of the Friends star, authorities have been retracing his steps that day. But experts say the ultimate answer will likely come from a team of physicians and investigators working out of the L.A. County coroner’s office on North Mission Road in Boyle Heights.

Experts said the team’s work will be extensive and likely take a couple of months to complete. In addition to examining the body, they also will conduct toxicology tests, interview those who were around Perry that day and scour the scene.

“Even the temperature of the jacuzzi will be taken,” said Craig Harvey, a retired chief of coroner’s investigations. “We do everything you see on TV, but it takes time.”

Harvey said an autopsy may have answered a lot of fundamental questions about the state of Perry’s body, including his heart, arteries and lungs. But a more detailed examination, conducted by a toxicologist and looking for chemicals in his organs, may tell another story.

“The autopsy will reveal any cardiac issues. With the naked eye they will able to look at his heart and see if any of his arteries are clogging,” Harvey said.

Officials received a medical call from Perry’s home overlooking the Pacific Ocean around 4pm Saturday reporting that the actor was in a hot tub and not breathing. The identity of the caller has not been revealed.

Law enforcement sources told the L.A. Times that no illicit drugs were found at the home.

Los Angeles Police Capt. Scot Williams, who leads the Robbery-Homicide Division that is investigating Perry’s death, said Sunday that the “cause of death may not be known for some time, but at this point, foul play is not suspected.”

One law enforcement source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, said any prescription medications recovered at the home will be part of the review, which is common practice.

The sources said that although Perry was found in the hot tub, no determination has been made as to whether he drowned.

Michael Baden, New York’s former medical examiner, said that in Perry’s case, “at the autopsy, they should know whether he was alive when he went into the water, judging from the amount of water in his lungs.”

Baden said the medical examiner would also look for clear signs of coronary artery disease and the size of the heart as well as signs of a stroke with cerebral artery disease and cerebral hemorrhaging.

Perry had publicly revealed in his autobiography Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing that he had a gastrointestinal perforation, and that could have led to long-term complications, Baden said. The medical examiners also may conduct a microscopic examination of the heart tissue, he added.

Given Perry’s extensive personally documented history of drug and painkiller use, Baden said investigators also would explore that angle.

Harvey said toxicology tests involve collecting specimens from organs and then testing them for various narcotics and medications.

Harvey said if drugs are found, their use could be considered an overdose, accidental overdose, therapeutic or insignificant, depending on the amount. Harvey said the toxicology tests take time and are repeated.

“We err on the side of caution,” he said.

The L.A. coroner’s office has extensive experience in high-profile cases, having investigated the deaths of silver screen legend Natalie Wood, hip-hop stars Notorious B.I.G. and Nipsey Hussle, and pop icon Michael Jackson. – Los Angeles Times/Tribune News Service